firstnothing | FOURTH WALL EVENT [Actions] [Kanto

FOURTH WALL EVENT [Actions] [Kanto - Celadon City/Route 16]

[Things have gotten a little.. odd, as midnight passed. Xemnas hadn't noticed at first, he was asleep and could sleep like the dead if sufficiently - but his Kadabra noticed, and after several minutes of waiting to see if the flash and thundrous crack of sound would repeat itself, went to carefully shake his master awake and relay what he'd seen.

The tent Xemnas had purchased in Goldenrod served well, keeping the late-year chill out (especially with several pokemon taking up residence inside with him), which meant getting on a few layers before venturing outside to watch the sky, and then the surroundings. His own senses were only as good as a human's, but with his pokemon now awake and theirs added to his own it's a little easier to tell that things are going a bit.. weird out here. More than a bit weird, was the landscape different?]

...Let's get moving. Whatever caused that, I don't want to be caught in the open for if it happens again.

[Malice glances at Xemnas, ears flattening back.]

::I have reason to believe we are in a new location, sir. This isn't Route 43.::

[That draws pause from Xemnas, who glances around again, this time looking for more than just shrubs and grass. ... And couldn't find fault with that conclusion. This earns a scowl and a sharp gesture. He didn't recognize the area. He'd never been to Kanto, nevermind being near Celadon City.]

Then whatever's chosen to shift us around like pieces on a chessboard won't find us waiting patiently the next time, will it?

[He sets to disassembling camp; after a moment the pokemon he has with hands begin helping. Time to get the hell out of dodge before anything else weird happened.]

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[Well. This wasn't disorienting at all. One second, he'd been dodging out of the way of a much larger than normal Invisible on the forest floor, and the next there is a flash of light, a loud 'crack', and a distinct lack of a certain mutant Heartless and the sword he'd been hoping to grab.

Still tensed and in the crouched position he'd landed in after that dodge, he scans his surroundings, trying to get his bearings.

'Tree cover isn't as thick... and I think I see buildings nearby.' Slowly, he gets back to his feet, and without letting his guard back down, lets his armor dissipate.

Wherever in the tower this was, it had a much more complex glamour. It might make this floor interesting, or it might not - he couldn't make any kind of judgement call until he'd gotten a better look around.

The flicker of firelight in the distance, away from the buildings he can just make out past the treeline, looks a little more promising. Someone camping on one of the floors? That meant they were either very confident in themselves, or this floor was relatively safe.

As quietly as he can manage, and while trying to stay out of sight, he makes his way over, unaware of the red and black puppy that had seen him arrive and decided to tag along, curious about the new arrival.]

[Xemnas kept Malice around for many reasons, among them being a powerful psychic. It makes it damned difficult for anything to sneak up on his camp.. and what did, rarely got past the sharp senses of his young riolu. He's in the middle of carefully rolling up his sleeping things when the kadabra suddenly looks up and away, alert, into the darkness. Usually it meant a pokemon getting a little too close, easily handled by his team most times. But when Malice doesn't move beyond a single slow tailswish and then his little riolu likewise perks up, it's more attention-grabbing.]

What is it?

::A visitor, sir. Travelling with just one pokemon. Shall we drive him away?::

[A traveller, at this hour, in this cold? Xemnas didn't bother with generosity most times, it simply didn't suit him. A long moment of silence, and he sighs, setting back to his self-appointed task.]

No. Sorrow, Regret. See to our ... 'visitor'. As we are leaving, they will be welcome to the fire when we are gone.

[Sawsbuck and zebstrika separate themselves neatly at his bidding, trotting in the direction indicated by Malice. To a denizen of the Tower, they might well be monsters, not quite deerlike or zebra-like, but their hooves are clear on the ground every time a stone is struck, and both of them.. well, they have collars. Not like a Tower collar, this a simple leather black band studded with silver and marked with the sigil of the Organization.

And if the pair can actually find Terra, approach in a way that doesn't quite seem to be an attack. These things are smart, that much is obvious, and they're quite content to simply flank the stranger and his little puppy.]

[The rustle of grass is what gives away that he isn't completely alone, and sets him on high enough alert that he calls Ends of the Earth to his hand.

'Where are you...' He takes a step back, eyes still scanning the surrounding area. He can sort-of make out shapes moving around the campfire, shadowy forms caused by the flickering light and shadows cast, but he isn't quite close enough to see.

Two shadows head his way from that firelight, the sound of hooves hitting the dirt reaches his ears, and he tenses, ready to attack if needed. At his side, he picks up the sound of... a dog growling?

'What?' He quickly glances down and sees the 'shadow' he had picked up - red, orange, with black tiger stripes and a very clear puppy-like shape, with it's hackles raised and eyes in front of it.

Right, back in front - he looks back ahead just in time to see the sources of the hoofbeats appear. Bright white with black stripes, two white horns shaped like lightning bolts that seemed to blend into the mane of the zebra seamlessly, and a dear with red autumn leaves in its antlers.

They were easily the most... normal-looking monsters he'd ever seen (not like that said much). And they weren't attacking.

That was almost worse.

His gazes shifts between the two, trying to take in what details he can regarding their appearance and overall body language. It takes a few seconds of staring, with the overall lack of light, but against the stark white of the zebra... thing... he can make out a single strip of black, with fire light glinting off of something shiny.

A collar. Monsters don't have collars. Sometimes, the pets people had gotten as 'gifts' from the tower did, though.

The tension slowly eases out of his body language and he stands straighter, letting his Keyblade simply hang in his grip instead of at the ready.

It feels silly, but... if they're not attacking, and they're someone's pet... maybe they were intelligent enough to understand him on some level?] You would've attacked me by now if you wanted to, right?

[This feels ridiculous, but... better start with the obvious questions, just to get used to whatever this was. At his side, the puppy keeps growling, and even adds a few barks communicating with it's fellow pokèmon.

::Go away! I found him - I want to figure him out!::]

[While Xemnas continues to pack, his starter and secondary deal with ...whoever it is out here. And a small, very noisy growlithe, doing exactly what growlithes do. It's very obvious neither deer nor zebra are put off at ALL by the noise of the little fire-dog, though the expression that crosses the sawsbuck's muzzle looks somehow terribly amused. Even if he's a grass-type and that little thing is a firetype, the difference in strength was simply too different for the puppy-pokemon to be any danger.

That Terra's body language is one of imminent threat and warning does however get a warning; both turn away immediately, their body language immediately shifting to their own species' methods of appeasement. They were certain they could handle a lone human and his growlithe, but if there was no need to fight they wouldn't bother.

But when directly spoken to, the zebstrika swivels back around, small ears perking up. And then very deliberately she nods. Whatever else, she seems to understand being spoken to. A toss of that striped head seems to indicate the fire, as her teammate circles around behind to block escape venues. The best way clearly, is forward. It's the sawbsuck that addresses the growlithe in a rustle of his leaf-antlers.]

::We already have a master, and we're quite happy where we are. Come.::

[Something else catches his attention though, now that he's downwind. The sawsbuck's head comes up, nostrils flaring. Another sniff or two, and then Terra's personal space is invaded by a sniffing Sorrow, who is distinctly being inquisitive about this - but a moment later steps back and away with a snort. That's.. interesting.

It doesn't stop him from trying to herd Terra and his growlithe in the right direction.]

::He's not my master!::[For a wild growlithe, it sure is defensive of what it has claimed as 'his'. It stops growling and looks at the sawsbuck suspiciously for a second before snorting and moving closer to Terra.] ::Good! He's my mystery to figure out!::

[Oblivious to the communication, Terra seems to have eased up a bit more at that definitive nod. Definitely smart enough to understand him, then. That's... new. Different. It's almost a relief - whoever owned these must have trained them well.] All right, then...

[He takes a step back when the deer enters his personal space - not to attack, but... to get his scent? He hears the puppy start to growl again, and he resists the urge to tell the little guy to knock it off.

It doesn't take a genius to figure out that the deer and zebra want him to follow them to the fire.] Fine, we'll do this your way - lead on.

[At least at the campfire, he'll be able to warm up a little - when did it get so cold out?]

::Oh? Too bad for you, then. You'll never get very strong.::

[Smug, that. And so certain. How many wild pokemon grew to be that powerful? Not many at all. The bonuses to having a trainer were manyfold! As it seems Terra's decided to head in the right direction, the zebstrika and sawsbuck seem content to simply flank him; this may be to keep him from running off but may be to simply keep an eye out for wild pokemon that little growlithe wasn't big enough to handle.

They had a good sense of propriety at least.

Drawing close to where Xemnas is camped marks a nice and warm little fire, burned a bit low after several hours of not being tended.. and four more of those monsters. These ones might be far more ominous, from the dusky-furred foxlike creature nearly as tall as a man with red-rimmed eyes and long, lethal looking claws to the attentive kadabra and small riolu.

Oh and the ghost. But that one's hard to get a pin on, it keeps phasing in and out of visibility with low chuckles. All of them are watching though, alert now. The only one not bothering is Xemnas, who's determinedly working on folding his tent back up into its small little package. He does glance up though when they actually arrive.]

You chose a poor night to be wandering about, stranger. It's to get below freezing. You're welcome to the fire, as we are leaving for the town shortly.

[There's a pause, though. He knows his own features well enough. Those ones are familiar, but all in the wrong colors.]

::Hey! I don't need a master to get strong!:: [The growlithe has done just fine on its own. And despite the strange, teleporting human not being his master, he follows along as if Terra were, not wanting to let this mystery human out of his sight.

Upon arrival, Terra takes in the sight of the other creatures, his eyes lingering a little longer on the dark-furred fox one due to the claws it's sporting, before settling on the lone human figure with the voice that he knows too well.

The silence is a little uncomfortable. He doesn't see recognition in Xemnas's eyes, not truly. It's... strange, but not so strange that he can't figure out what that unfamiliarity means.

A different Xemnas, from a different point in time. But from when? And this one seemed... different.

But, Xemnas was talking to him. It'd be... rude, not to respond.] ... thanks. I didn't expect to be out this late.

[Nor for it to get this cold, or for him to find himself randomly teleported to a different part of the Tower.

The little growlithe looks between the two humans curiously, and then pads over to Xemnas and takes a curious sniff, as if the mystery of the teleporting human has deepened.]

::Yes you do.:: The zebstrika's response is immediate, instead of allowing the sawsbuck his own reply. ::There's only so far you can get alone. You'll see.::

They all figured it out in time. Sometimes it took being caught to begin with, but some understood right away. They weren't much interested in explaining in detail.. if the growlithe chose to not stick with its master, then that wasn't the problem of Xemnas' team.

Packing was. And with Regret close enough to begin packing htings on, it's time to begin strapping on packs. Zebstrikas weren't the most powerful pokemon, but they were useful.]

A keyblade, mm? You'll want to put that away. The law enforcement don't take weapons kindly.

[The warning is mild, but still interested. What was this person who resembled himself doing with such a weapon? After a moment he pulls out his pokegear to check their location, then frowns, glancing east. How did they get so far from Mahogany?]

But you're in luck, there's a town not far to the east. I suggest heading that way if your small companion isn't strong enough to handle the wild pokemon. It's ... disallowed to do the fighting yourself. Welcome to Kanto, by the way. What do you call yourself?

[There's no sense that it's a genuine welcome, but the curiosity's real.]

You know, Riku, maybe you should slow down. This isn't--

I'm fine, Ace.

[If Xemnas listens closely, he may overhear a familiar voice and one not so familiar voice, the latter of which sounds a bit gravelly, almost as if the speaker's growling her words. As they move closer, Xemnas may spot Riku and a Lucario trudging along, with a Nidoking and Charizard close behind. They're at the very entrance to the Route, just exiting the city.

Though Riku's a bit distracted, he does pick up on the tent after a few moments, eying Xemnas as he works to dismantle the campsite. Was he here this whole time? Riku raises an eyebrow and watches for a couple of seconds before wandering closer. He looks so much like...

Well, he can't get too far ahead of himself.]

So, you been here this whole time?

[Quick efforts to tear down a camp and get to somewhere more likely to have emergency services doesn't mean Xemnas isn't paying attention to his surroundings. He may only be an ordinary human these days, but he hasn't forgotten how to be alert.

It helps that he has six other sets of eyes and ears paying attention. Which means Riku and his entourage are noted pretty quickly, and primarily by the bobbling flame that is a charizard's tail.

He stops what he's doing and observes. There's no way he doesn't recognize Riku, for all the trouble he'd caused in his own timeline.. but this one was different. The boy could still be useful, and this.. well, this was the first time he'd had the opportunity to actually meet the boy face to face. Perhaps whatever dragged him here was beneficial, after all..]

Hello, Riku.

[Hey it's that guy! There's an acknowledging nod, though he turns back to his work. Of his pokemon, only the kadabra turns to observe the newcomers with an attentive, unblinking stare. Xemnas, it seemed, was perfectly content to trust the psychic mon's senses in this case.. or he just doesn't think Riku's going to attack him.]

This evening when I set up camp I was about three miles north of Mahogany, if I were truthful. I'm not certain how I got here. .. But it seems fortuitous.

[For him. There's little of his bearing or attitude to suggest malicious intent, just thoughtful interest. He had told Xehanort that Riku might well be an appropriate thirteenth vessel. Might as well see if that was still true.]

[Well this is an interesting sight. Never thought he'd see Xemnas camping. Or with a group of...whatever those things were. Dream Eaters, maybe.]

Nice to see a familiar face. Though I'm guessing you have a better idea of what's going on than I do.

[Because if Xemnas has a tent to camp in, he's clearly been here a while.]

[Such cute dream eaters.

Dream eaters that growl, several of them, at Xigbar's sudden appearance - and are silenced immediately by a short, sharp gesture from Xemnas. Of all the people he expected to never run into.. well.

Xigbar's on the short list. Life didn't work that way. He's given a quick once-over before nodding slightly to himself.]

Very little idea truthfully, if you mean your sudden arrival here; the powers that choose who to inflict on this small world seem to do so completely at random and without warning OR permission. Welcome to Kanto, of the world of legalized and endorsed magical cockfighting.

[The gesture that goes with this is wide and sweeping.]

They didn't see fit to give you a monster of your own, then? Too bad. If you stay I'll find you something ... appropriate.

[There doesn't really seem to be a lot of surprise but then again this 'emotions' thing was still a serious issue he had problems with. It's a little strange, how he can go so long without seeing another Organization member, and then when one turns up, snap right back into old routines.]

[The growlithe will just fume silently over that, as much as it wants to keep arguing. For now, though, it'll focus on this new twist in the 'Mystery of the Teleporting Human' - the scent it got from Xemnas was almost identical to that of that same teleporting human.

It'll definitely be sticking around that odd human to see what else it can learn.

Terra just tenses up slightly, his grip on the hilt of his Keyblade tightening. He's in a new place (or a new floor, but those didn't come around very often), and he has no idea what might be in store for him. Every instinct he has is telling him to keep it out.

... but, thinking about now, and his current surroundings, he didn't need it right away. Implications of a floor or world large enough to have law enforcement aside, he still had his magic, and he could re-summon the blade in less than a second. He even still had the Ethereal Blades, though he hated calling on Nothingness unless he absolutely had to.

It's with a lot of wariness on his end that he dismisses his weapon.] I'll keep that in mind.

[The device that Xemnas pulls out catches Terra's eye, and he tries to get a better look at it while it's out without trying to be too obvious about it.

'Telling me there's a town to the east... it probably has a map function.' That sounds useful.

He outright scowls at the news that he can't do any fighting himself. Yeah. Right. And if he gets attacked by something, they expect him to ... make one of these creatures fight for him? Make the dog that had decided to tail him to the campsite fight for him, when the little guy didn't look to be all that old in the first place?

That just sat wrong with him.] I'd like to see someone try and stop me.

[He shivers, the adrenaline from before finally fading enough for the cold to properly hit him, and he moves closer to the fire in an effort to stay warm for a little.

He hears the curiosity in Xemnas's voice, and he wonders just what this version of the Superior truly remembers. If he's asking for a name and is surprised at the presence of a Keyblade...

Again, not answering would just be rude.] Terra.

['Welcome to Kanto'... right. He's still fairly convinced this is another part of the Tower, under a modified glamour. Convincing him that he's somewhere else entirely will take a bit of effort.]

[There is time enough to puzzle things out. Terra's hostility isn't quite directed at him, thus he's not considered an active enemy. This is good to know. It means the stranger, be he some other form of Xemnas or not, can be put to some form of use. Which means for now, maintaining politeness and a bearing of calm, and a deliberate choice to be useful himself. The latter's easy enough to do. As Terra tries and fails to not look too interested in the pokegear, he's regarded for a moment..

And then it's simply offered, as if he's already certain it will be returned.]

This is a pokegear. It functions as a timekeeper, a map, a method to connect to a global 'telephone' system of sorts, a radio, and various other useful things. They're not difficult to acquire, I suggest getting one when you reach a town. It's not a matter of 'someone' stopping you, my new friend. This world will stop you. You aren't where you used to be, and you may not return there for quite some time.

[His smile is thin and humorless.]

And you may wish to put the fire to use. It's chilly and you look unprepared for the weather.

[Things are still being packed away; he's not lingering. But he at least has many layers to wear against the chill, unlike Terra. The name is acknowledged, but there's really nothing to connect it to.]

... Though if you don't mind sharing, where are you from? I suspect there's a connection between us, and yet when that connection comes from, and where, is still a mystery to me.

[Life's funny that way Xemnas. One day you're dead and the next you're off having adventures in Pokemon land.]

Kanto, huh. Can't say that's a world I'm familiar with. Sounds interesting though.

[Sounds kinda like the Colosseum but clearly with better things than whatever Heartless have been rounded up.]

So what's your plan for this place? Because you not having a plan? As if.

[Pokemon land is very entertaining in its own fashion.]

It's diverting, for a while.

[But only for a while. Sooner or later there would be nothing left to do and the age-old desire to be elsewhere would resurface.]

For now, I must satisfy myself with global takeover. There really isn't much else to do. The barriers between worlds haven't been properly shattered yet, and if I ever intend to leave this wretched rock I'll have to get to it.

[World takeover and then world destruction. Xemnas didn't really bother with simple plans.]

Oh. My first self is in this world as well, without a peep from protesting timestreams. You should say hello.

Is he now?

[Well, now it'd just be rude not to go pay the guy behind everything a visit. So he'll have to do that at some point.]

Anybody else we know here? If you had one or two of the kiddos, you could probably speed that whole shattering thing along.

Indeed. It was interesting to discover.

[And here he is, months later, still perfectly stable. That was the odd part. The timestream should be throwing fits.]

Ahhh.. yes. Sora. Riku, though he remembers nothing at all; I intend to put him to better uses. A replica Vexen created named 'Xion'. Demyx is somewhere about but if you see him feel free to shoot him until it ceases being entertaining.

[It's almost offhand, that last bit. Xion however was a mystery, since he didn't actively remember her thanks to what happened with her death.]

They'll all serve whether they wish to or not, but there are things to attend to first that I am seeing to. When did you arrive here? Just now?

[Months? That's...well, he was under the impression time travel didn't work that way.]

Sounds like quite the group.

[He'll leave it at that. Not much more to be said really. ]

As to when I got here, just now's about right. Maybe a few hours at the most, but definitely no more than that.

It's kind of a bi-annual thing.

[The words come out casually and with a shrug of the shoulders, as if it's no big deal. For Riku, it really isn't, as he's gone through this song and dance time and time again over the years. Thankfully, Xemnas' prediction is right on the money, as Riku makes no sudden moves. Likewise, his Pokémon remain still, though Slacker the Nidoking whimpers and slips behind Flare due to Kadabra's stare. It's creepy!

And, okay, even Riku ends up pulling his eyes away from the psychic type before long. She's almost as bad as Dart...]

Believe me, getting dropped off in random corners of Kanto is nothing compared to what else goes on. Some people get their powers back, others wind up with tons of Pokémon they never even caught. Plus, there's a whole slew of visitors-- even duplicates of people.

[... that's surprising, but he won't turn away something once offered. He listens to the explanation of the Pokègear as he looks over it, his curiosity getting the better of him regarding the device.

Time piece, communication device, map, radio... that definitely sounds like it could be useful. Particular the part about it being a portable communication device.

But that function also has him suspicious - why hadn't he seen more of these in the Tower? If it wasn't difficult to acquire, like Xemnas said, then why was network access only available through permanent terminals that didn't always work?

It didn't add up. Nor did these creatures, or having to use them to fight instead of protecting himself. He'd seen nothing like them in the year and a half he'd been there.

He passes the device back to Xemnas, and levels a neutral look at him for a few moments. Asking where he's from? Seriously?] I'm sure you know that's a trick question.

[A brief pause, before he decides to just give the other the answers he is looking for.] Immediately prior to 'here', I was in the Tower of Animus. Otherwise, I was raised on a world called the Land of Departure.

[His tone makes it obvious that he doesn't think he's left the tower he mentioned, however that might be.

... the forced neutral look on his face softens to something akin to curiosity on his own part. Xemnas really doesn't remember how they're connected?

It's hard not to pull a Riku and be sarcastic. Very hard.]

[Hopefully Xemnas is getting the hell out of dodge and right into Celadon City, because someone else has appeared, looking rather miffed and very snug in her new ~~stolen~~ jacket, which hides a pair of small, feathery wings on her. She's without pokemon - and much of anything aside from her hat, teddy bear, and parasol - looking upset at the situation. Where the heck is this place?! Last she remember she was getting ready to have breakfast back in Luceti. The stove was still on, even! Then she appeared in this bizarre place in just her pajamas in the cold! Uuugh... At the very least there was a wonderful department store where she changed clothes in.]

This is ridiculous... I'm still hungry! And I haven't even had a chance to take my shower or anything! If this isn't Luceti, then why do I still have these blasted wings on my back?! It'd better not be one of those terrible experiments... Weeeh!! This is stupid! I want to go back to my apartment and have breakfast! I didn't even get to enjoy my morning before this all happened!

[Perhaps it's simply because Terra's not in the Tower. Mysterious forces brought him there, surely mysterious forces could also take him back out. The pokegear is simply put away, and then Xemnas returns to organizing the remains of his belongings. It seems the zebstrika and sawsbuck's primary use is carrying things so he doesn't have to.]

It's only a trick question if you make it one. I have no time for games.

[That's definitely annoyance in his voice. Xemnas doesn't really have much interest in wasting time diddling around with wordgames with strangers, it seems. At least there is an actual answer eventually, which draws a glance.]

You certainly travel a lot then. It's unlikely you'll be returning to your world of origin or this Tower of yours terribly soon, so I hope you didn't leave anything on the stove.

[The Land of Departure. It sounded familiar, the Tower did not.]

Once you acquire your own pokegear, I suggest keeping tabs on the messages others leave. You may have friends here, awaiting your arrival or your return. I would offer the standard warnings but I have the sense you would simply ignore them.

[A set of straps are carefully tightened, and Xemnas turns his gaze east, frowning.]

Celadon isn't far. You'll find lodging, advice and equipment there at the Pokecenter. You may travel with me, as that is where I am headed.

[There's no sense that it's a courtesy offer, merely someone who thinks themselves vastly superior deigning to allow someone to accompany him, for their protection. Not his.]

Is that so? Are you willing to offer more advice on what this.. bi-annual thing includes?

[It might not be a big deal to Riku, but Xemnas didn't know what he was dealing with and he didn't like that. He vastly preferred being on top of a situation.

With glacial slowness, Malice blinks once, ears flicking back, then turns his attention to his own trainer. Whatever information is shared between them is something they choose not to enlighten others to. When the kadabra returns to his observation, it's with something more like idle curiosity than anything else.]

The world regularly goes mad and no-one thought to make a notice of that to newcomers? [There's a quiet tsk.] How long does this peculiarity last?

[Powers, hm? Xemnas had adapted poorly to being without them. He raises one hand, curious, and calls the Darkness. It responds immediately - and a little too eagerly for his tastes; it's dismissed almost immediately after it begins forming in roiling purple-black smoke. No, tampering with that when his heart was still a new thing would be unwise.]

Hm. Interesting. Are you likewise affected? Lost things returned to you, or friends?

[It shouldn't work that way and yet here it was, working that way.

Xemnas disliked surprises but this one wasn't terrible.]

And convenient.

[There's a pause. Hours.] A question, Xigbar.

[He's asked other questions, but this one is important.]

Did you choose to come to this world, or were you brought against your will?

[Which is perhaps another way of asking if Xigbar can leave; Xemnas can't. And he wanted to.]

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FOURTH WALL EVENT [Actions] [Kanto - Celadon City/Route 16]

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[Action - Celadon]

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